21 Net

Broadband To Trains: Technical and
Commercial Issues, and 21Net’s
experience in the European Market
Henry Hyde-Thomson
Chairman, 21Net
NGSCA, 22 November 2007, KOFST
Big market opportunity for Internet to Trains
In a recent study, the European Space Agency estimate the
opportunity for European Train Operators to enhance their revenues
by providing on board Internet access at between €3bn and €10bn.
ESA Broadband on Trains survey (July2006)
November 2007
A growing mature technology
SJ (inter-city trains & commuters trains)
Intercity + Albatros
T-mobile
Pilot with 7 trains
Deployment of the
service in 2007
GNER + Virgin Rail
(project) + LondonBrighton
TGV – EST – Autumn 2007
Thalys: Trial 2005,
Commercial 2008
RENFE - Pilot train
Madrid - Lerida
• A BWCS survey anticipate
that 50%to 80% of Long
Distance trains will be
equipped with a Wi-Fi
Internet connectivity within
5 years.
Pilote CFF
Swisscom
Trenitalia
Projet Vector – 2 ETR 500
Pilot or project
Commercial service
November 2007
Interest of Train Operators for Internet
based services
Train Operators benefit from Internet based services by additional
revenues generated by:
 Upgrade of passengers (Economy to Business/Privilege Class)
 Gain of market shares – Traveling by train becomes more attractive
than traveling by car/plane, as illustrated by our feedback from users
of the 21Net service (Thalys trial, 2005):
87% of the users of the 21Net service would recommend it,
74% think that this service is a key factor to prefer travelling onboard
Thalys trains.
 Potential revenues from additional entertainment services (hotel
reservation system) or advertisement on the Internet portal (tourist or
local based advertisement about the destinations)
November 2007
Expectations of customers for Internet based
services on trains (1/3)
Today, the demand for Internet based services on board trains is
mainly Business oriented:
The main functionalities preferred by users of such a service are
Business related:
Emails with attachment (71%),
Internet surfing (62%),
VPN access.
 Business passengers expect a
qualitative Internet access
enabling them to use the same
functionalities as in the office =>
BROADBAND Internet
BWCS Survey of early train Internet users
November 2007
Importance of Broadband
Passengers using the 21Netʼs
Broadband connectivity confirmed
our (and BWCSʼ) firm belief that to
be useful to todayʼs demanding
laptop users, an Internet
connection must be Broadband meaning capable of megabit data
rates - and offer similar
performance to what passengers
normally have at work, and
increasingly at home as well.
Even demanding applications like
two way video conferencing work
over 21Net at 300 km/hr
November 2007
Modalities of launch of Internet based
services on trains
At 21Net, we believe that to be successful, Internet based services
on board trains should respect the following guidelines:
 Provide a seamless & smooth access to the service – Keep it
Simple !!!!
 Do not underestimate the need for Customer information & support
(Hotline, brochures, website)
 Provide multiple sales channels, tariffs/subscriptions
 Never forget to train & involve the Train Staff - Key factor !!!
 Think of dedicated applications that can be designed for the Train
Staff based on a secured wireless Internet access (realtime updated
occupancy of the train, last minute booking, etc…)
November 2007
Pricing approach
 A successful pricing policy for Internet based services should be in
line with the Market Prices/Userʼs price sensitivity;
 The pricing policy aims to convince and seduce your Business
passengers => key target !
- Dedicated tariffs for frequent travelers (= frequent users)
- Corporate subscriptions for companies
- Interest for roaming tariffs?
November 2007
What does 21Net offer?
• Leveraging the experienced gained during 2 years of trials,
and feedback from train operators and passengers, 21Net
offers a full managed Broadband To Trains service based on:
 Railway grade Wi-Fi installations
 Main rack built to railway standards compliant with
EN50-155 and other applicable norms
 21Net’s Network Operations Centre & Remote
Management system
 Telecommunication licenses and satellite operator
approvals in place
 High performance antennas and DVBS-RCS technology
 Mobile IP and fast switch-over technology for combining
terrestrial wireless with bi-directional satellite for “gap filling”
in tunnels, and stations
November 2007
21Net System Architecture
DVB RCS mobile
Technology
21Net Ground
Station
Equipment
21Net Network
Operations Center
November 2007
Technical Maturity of 21Netʼs
Broadband To Trains system
•
21Net has pioneered the use of
bi-directional satellite
communications to provide
Broadband To Trains
•
Since 2004 the 21Net system
has been successfully tested in
Spain, France, Germany, Belgium
and The Netherlands.
•
With the third version of its
system, 21Net has arrived at a
robust, railway grade offering.
November 2007
Getting it all working on
a High Speed Train
• Isn’t easy!
• Difficult environment, electrically,
vibration
• Difficult to test or modify
• Extensive regulations e.g. EN50155 and
many national and railway operator rules
• Long approvals process
•At 21Net, all equipments are selected on
basis of reliability and minimising
maintenance
November 2007
World’s First Bi-directional satellite
communication to a train (2004)
• Demonstrated
could sustain high
data rates 4 mbps
to / 2 mbps from
the train, at high
speeds - to
320km/hr
November 2007
Experience in a Commercial Trial (Apr - Dec 2005)
•
Demonstrating the
strong interest of
passengers for a
seamless Broadband
Internet access while
traveling at 300km/hr
November 2007
ThalysNet included a portal offering Internet access &
entertainment services (breaking news, short films):
November 2007
Thalys passengers used all common Internet
protocols and applications:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Web Browsing, HTTP
POP3, SMTP, Exchange email
HTTPS and VPN connections including online banking and
corporate VPNs with connections maintained while going through
tunnels
Online Chatting,
Online Gaming,
Video Streaming (e.g. trailers from Qucktime website & BMW
Films in largest size format),
Voice over IP (Skype),
Downloading music (e.g. iTunes music store) etc.
November 2007
Very positive reviews...
•
•
•
•
The uninterrupted connection onboard the train is comparable to
the quality of an ADSL connection. (…) In fact, I was so engaged in
my work that I was taken by surprise at the announcement that we
would be arriving in Paris in 15 minutes and I was rather irritated
that I had to stop what I was doing and shut down my computer,
thinking to myself: "Just a few more minutes."
Anna Gouldman, 23 June 2005, Internet Travelnews
“We connected ourselves 43 times between Gare du Nord in Paris
and Bruxelles Midi. The average speed is 1,68 Mbps, the highest
1,89 Mbps and the smallest 1,44 Mbps. The test was conclusive, all
our usual applications worked perfectly well. The connection
remained stable, with the exception of some microcuts due to
tunnels which block the satellite signal.”
Guerric Poncet, Le Point 30/06/05 - N°1711
November 2007
World’s First implementation of DVB RCS technology for
satellite communication to a train (2006)
•
Demonstrating ability
to deliver consistent
broadband connectivity
across the SNCF
network using DVB
RCS
November 2007
Track colour shows data rate
Green > 1,000 kbps
Light Blue 500 - 1,000 kbps
Dark Blue: 200 - 500 kbps
Red < 200 kbps
TGV 509 - 2006 07 27
Arrival and Departure
from Gare de Lyon
November 2007
Track colour shows data rate
Green > 1,000 kbps
Light Blue 500 - 1,000 kbps
Dark Blue: 200 - 500 kbps
Red < 200 kbps
TGV 509 - 2006 07 27
Arrival and Departure
from Gare de Lyon
November 2007
November 2007
November 2007
7 November 2007
November 2007
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Detailed View of Eb/No variation over a 5 minute period
9.00
8.00
7.00
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5.00
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2.00
1.00
0.00
Antenna Performance and Operating
Cost
•
To obtain multi-megabit data rates, it is necessary to use a high
gain antenna
•
•
With antennas Gain is proportional to Size: Size Matters!
•
A high gain antenna and a modern satellite can achieve 1 to 1 or
better ratio of Mbps to MHz
•
Low gain antennas will need to use spread spectrum, which
means multiple MHz per Mbps (e.g. 4MHz per Mbps or more)
Small antennas have much higher Opex (need more MHz per
Mbps)
November 2007
High Performance Antennas
21Net 30RR Antenna
21Net 60RR
ETRI ku/Ka
Phasor Antenna
Circular Reflector 80cm
diameter
Offset Feed, Reflector
Approx 1.5m X 40cm
Dual Offset, tri Band
60cm X 25cm
12 - 16 Panels
1.2m X 2m
Height (incl
Radome)
72cm
45cm
35cm
3cm
G/T
17.3 dB/K
15 dB/K
Ka 11dB/K, Ku: 7.5dB/K
16.6 dB/K
eirp
43 dBW
41 dBW
Ka-band: 44dBW
43 dBW
MBits per MHz
Down: 1.25; Up: 1.00
Down: 1.25; Up: 1.00
Forward: 1.25
Down: 1.25; Up: 1.00
Status
Approved, In Production
Prototype Q2 2007
Robust and
reliable
mechanical
antennas ➔
Electronic
phased arrays
with no moving
parts
Size
High
performance
radomes using
jet fighter
technology for
maximum
strength and
low RF loss ➔
no radome
Prototype H2
2008?
Nov
2007
High Performance Antennas - 2
21Net 30RR Antenna
21Net 60RR
ETRI ku/Ka
Phasor Antenna
Production
Status
In Production
Prototype Testing Q4 07
Prototype Demonstrated
Q4 05, since improved
Not yet
Tested in Rail
Environment
Extensively since 2004
Starting Test Program
2008
With KTX 2007
Not yet
Satellite
Approvals
Eutelsat, SES Astra,
Hispast, Intelsat
Status
Koreasat
Satellite
Restrictions
Ka band uplink
Comments
Not currently well suited
for Europe as limited Ka
Good choice of suitable
capacity is at expensive Probably more expensive
satellites including some
orbital locations and non- than mechanical reflector
inclined orbit satellite at
optimal power levels.
antennas
attractive prices
Well suited to operate
with Koreasat
Wide choice of suitable
satellites including some
inclined orbit satellite at
attractive prices
Nov 2007
Antenna Approval & Regulations
 The 21Netʼs current 30RR antenna has been approved by
They are fully compliant with the Visat and ETSI standards
for Earth Station on Trains:
 European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
EN 302 448 V0.21.2 (2006-03)
Harmonised EN for satellite Earth Stations on Trains
(ESTs) operating in the 11/12/14 GHz frequency bands
allocated to the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS)covering
essential requirements under article 3.2 of the R&TTE
directive.
Nov 2007
Intelligent Bandwidth Allocation
21Net has pioneered DVBS-RCS in Rail Environment: world first demonstration
with SNCF in 2006
our unique Mobile DVBS-RCS system, satellite bandwidth is shared
• With
across all the trains of the fleet, allocating bandwidth on demand
according to the usage level in each train
• RX bandwidth is shared across one or more multiplexed transponders
is very small TX bandwidth for signaling protocols allocated to all
• There
trains, with or without passengers. This is not material for bandwidth
calculations.
• The bulk of the TX bandwidth is allocated on demand
result is that we only need provision enough bandwidth to satisfy
• The
the maximum number of simultaneous users across the whole fleet
rather than a fixed amount per train
➡
With 21Net, Satellite Bandwidth Scales Linearly with Actual Internet
Use
November 2007
Multi Carrier Technology
21Net system incorporates Mobile IP and fast switch-over
• The
technology for combining terrestrial wireless with bi-directional
satellite for “gap filling” in tunnels, urban canyons, stations and
other places with restricted line of sight to satellite
• Can switch between:
• Satellite
• GPRS / UMTS
• Wi-Fi
• Other wireless radio links (e.g. WiMax)
November 2007
21Net’s R&D Projects
We are continuing to make significant investment in R&D. Current
projects:
•
Testing and introduction of low profile reflector antenna
(“60RRR”)
•
Evaluation of ETRI Ku/Ka antenna for markets where Ka is
available
•
•
Development of next generation flat (“Phasor”) antenna
Development and testing of Gap-Filling solutions for tunnels
November 2007
Thalys Deployment on the whole fleet (Sept
2007-2008)
In September 2007, THALYS officially selected a consortium, lead by
•
21NET and Nokia Siemens, to become the first international high speed
railway company to deliver true broadband Internet access to
passengers traveling between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne.
The service is expected to be in full operation by 2008. It will be the
•
first international high speed train to provide this service across
European borders.
The consortium will combine satellite, GPRS and UMTS technologies
•
with wireless networks similar to WiFi Hotspots to provide a
continuous Internet connection on board trains traveling across the
borders at the speed of 300 km/h.
November 2007
Advantages of a two-way satellite
communication system
•Big advantages for two-way satellite solutions:
Fast deployment, Modest Capex and Opex, Robust and proven
•
technology
• Available everywhere (other than in tunnels!) right away
• Spans borders
Scaleable from 1 to 40 Mbps without any change to on board
•
equipment
•Big opportunity provided that
• delivers true broadband
• married with gap filler technology for stations and tunnels
• is really reliable
November 2007
Broadband To Trains:
3 Key Technical Issues
• Overcoming difficulties of satellite antenna
performance in demanding railway environment electrical, mechanical, regulatory
• Ensuring system is robust against unavoidable short
outages in transmission from bridges and trellises
• Combining satcom with gap filler solution for stations
and tunnels
November 2007
Broadband To Trains:
2 Key Technical / Commercial Issues
• Achieving High Spectral Efficiency so that the ratio of
Mbps of delivered data rate to MHz of satellite
bandwidth is at least 1:1
- otherwise hard to get positive business case
• Ensuring that system is really robust
- low maintenance is vital for use in railways
November 2007
Broadband To Trains:
4 Key Commercial Issues
• Business Model - free ? free to First Class, pay in 2nd?
• Pricing of Internet service - strike right balance
between economic return and low cost affordability to
establish wide usage
• Offer additional services inside train delivered over
broadband link - e.g. 3G or WiMax
• Total cost of operation over 5(+) years - capex + opex
- must be kept competitive
November 2007
November 2007